“With minimal international travel at the moment, there has been strong domestic demand and more customers have been taking their pets with them on holiday around New Zealand,” Air New Zealand group general manager of airports Chloe Surridge said. “In December alone, we saw a 69 per cent increase in passengers bringing their pets away with them.” Seasoned traveller Ernie the corgi, of Auckland, was among those flying with Air New Zealand last month. “He travels a lot,” said owner Will Maisey. “We take him pretty much wherever we go.” This summer, Ernie joined his human parents in heeding Tourism New Zealand’s call to “do something new”, travelling to Akaroa and Lake Tekapo in the South Island, visiting attractions like the Church of the Good Shepherd and the New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm.